2. About TechSoup Canada
We help nonprofits use
technology to achieve
their full potential.
Register your organization today, to be eligible to request over 300 products from 25 donor partners!
www.TechSoupCanada.ca/getting_started
3. Technology Donations Program
Is my org eligible?
a) Does your business number end in
RR0001?
b) Do you have a Letters Patent from Industry
Canada?
c) Are you incorporated as a not-for-profit
corporation with your province?
d) Are you a library?
You may be eligible to get donations
of…
4. We create and curate tech resources
@techsoupcanad
a
facebook.com/
techsoupcanada
feeds.feedburner.co
m/
techsoupcanada
8. Why is Social Media important?
increased interest to
attend an arts event
through posts on social
media
attended an arts or
cultural event due to
posts on social media
Social Media Plays a Major Role in Exposing New Audiences to Canadian Arts Organizations
of Canadians (interested
in arts & culture) use
social media to connect
with art organizations
http://corporate.askingcanadians.com/social-media-plays-a-major-role-in-exposing-new-audiences-to-canadian-arts-organizations/
9. Is it really worth it?
Common stages of social media adoption:
Peer pressure. “Everyone’s doing it, let’s do it too!”
Underestimating work. “Social media is easy. My nephew can do it. Set
up a Facebook account and start tweeting!”
Overestimating results. “We have some fans and followers, but we
haven’t gained new donors, members, volunteers, etc.– what gives?”
Disappointment. “This social media thing is a bust. It takes too much
time and the return isn’t worth it.”
Credit: Fenton
http://www.fenton.com/resources/see-say-feel-do/
11. Be authentic
It’s not all about you – keep your own
content and services to a minimum
Participate in discussions and dialogues
Be timely and authentic with your
responses
Focus on stories and engaging your
supporters
Connect with influencers – let others
promote you
YOUR CAUSE
IS NOT
YOUR STORY.
12. Understand Your Channels & Tools
Decide what channels to use and set goals
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn, etc.
More channels = more time & resources
Plan for 2 hours / week / channel
14. If you were a fan of your
own organization, what
would it take to engage
you?
Something fun?
Denny’s Diner Tumblr
Something
inspiring?
charity:water Facebook
Something useful?
TechSoup Canada,
Facebook
23. Resources
Social Media and the Performing Arts: Engagement First, Ticket Sales Second
http://beth.typepad.com/beths_blog/2009/10/social-media-and-the-performing-arts-engagement-first-ticket-sales-
second-2.html
Today’s not-so-quiet social media revolution puts the performing artist center stage
http://technorati.com/todays-not-so-quiet-social-media-revolution-puts-the-performing-artist-center-stage/
Vancouver arts groups harness the power of social media
http://www.straight.com/arts/593931/vancouver-arts-groups-harness-power-social-media
24. Resources
Tips for succeeding on Facebook
http://blog.bufferapp.com/facebook-reach-strategies
Ideas for social media engagement
http://www.bethkanter.org/squirrel-kiss
Idealware’s Nonprofit Social Media Decision Guide
http://idealware.org/reports/nonprofit-social-media-decision-guide
Idealware’s Nonprofit Social Media Policy Workbook
http://www.idealware.org/reports/nonprofit-social-media-policy-workbook
*** add speaking notes for this section for Joyce ***
People who like the arts like it all the time, not just a couple of times a year when they attend a performance! This is a way for them to stay connected to that side of themselves on an ongoing basis.
Social media complements other channels like your website and email, but doesn’t replace them.
Not just about promoting your shows! View this as a tool for building relationships. People will be more exposed to you over time and then more likely to buy tickets (though they may not see themselves as having done so *because* of social media)
Promote others – e.g. Nicole promoting other businesses and festivals in Almonte. Idea of **reciprocity**
Add more to this bit
Each channel is its own culture – it takes time to learn the language/ettiquette, meet the locals, etc. Don’t expect to barge in and find instant success
Group brainstorm
As an arts org you have a lot of great content at your fingertips. E.g. behind the scenes.
Behind the scenes, audience interaction
Big focus on sharing audience comments. Also have behind the scenes, creative content (eg grilled shakespeare). Highlight artists.
Connecting with local businesses & organizations. Targeted Facebook ads by geography.
“Giving people more insight into what’s going on behind the scenes actually makes people more excited [to come to shows],” the elegant Ko explains in conversation with theStraight at a downtown café, her iPod and laptop computer always a finger’s reach away. “When I joined [in July 2013], the first thing I knew I needed to do was get on Instagram. Ballet is visual, dance is visual—this is where people are going to see what Ballet B.C.’s all about. Especially because Facebook is on the decline, and not everyone’s on Twitter.…I’ve actually recruited quite a few people from Instagram to come to our shows.”
Just seven months into her position, Ko has single-handedly boosted the company’s combined followers across all social-media platforms from 4,000 to 10,000 (sample tweets: “Chiffon tops & more. First look at the #costumes for #GraceSymmetry #dancefashion”; “So we’re kinda excited for OPENING NIGHT this Thursday… Who’s coming?…#vancouver #yvrarts”). That’s a 150-percent boost in potential audience members actively seeking to engage with the company—one that, only four years ago, was on thebrink of bankruptcy, before it re-emerged with a new artistic director and a fresh mandate to commission and present contemporary ballet alongside visiting productions of classics.
Branislav Henselmann, the company’s executive director since July 2012, says he realized the impact the social-media strategy was having when the company performed at the prestigious Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival in Massachusetts last July.
“I remember one of the people who works with the admin said, ‘Oh, my God! Your social media is amazing!’ ” he recalls in a phone call with the Straight. “It made me smile because she was exactly of the age that we would expect social media to hit. She was so excited that we were at the festival, having seen already 20 companies by then, because she was able to get all the information about the company [from our social media].” He credits the increased online visibility with helping to boost audience numbers as well. Subscriptions increased by 13 percent from 2011-12 to 2012-13, he reports, and this year they’ve already seen an additional 24-percent increase for 2013-14. Single-ticket sales also went up 18 percent from 2011-12 to 2012-13.
Facebook Group – completely online, strong community participation